If and when I have a thought, and have ten minutes in the office, I might write mildly diverting thoughts here: about new media in real life, about the web, about the future. But mostly, I think, I'll just wiffle about nothing.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Clicking around (and what a terrible interface it is for browsing) I noticed an arts programme destined for broadcast only in Scotland. Except, there it was on iPlayer, too - 30 minutes of television about my absolute favourite painter, Alison Watt.

I saw her work for the first time when I found a catalogue to one of her early shows in a second hand book-shop. She's a figurative painter, mostly, although tending towards abstraction of a kind these days. The work I fell for was portraits of women; drawn from art history, a little Ingres, really; very still, very beautiful, chalky and calm. I still love them, and would give anything to own one, to be able to look at it every day as the light changed, to live with it as it unfolded.

And here, here is 30 minutes of Proper Arts Television; just long, still shots of the paintings, and then the artist herself - her, there, talking - I'd never seen her before. She's so engaged with her work, she talks passionately about painting, about how it involves you, how you fall for images. The pacing reminds me of the old Modern Times documentaries; there's breathing space for the viewer to take in the pictures here.

I'm so happy to have found this; to have been reminded why I love images, and why I love television, and why I love the internet; to be reminded of why my career has travelled the odd direction it has.

Thank you, BBC Scotland, and thank you Alison Watt. There is so much happiness and beauty here.

Yep, I know about that one. Nice that someone's built it, but getting smart recommendations in to the interface should be a priority for the product manager, I think. There's just too much stuff in there at the moment - the grid is great for top level, but the ammount of duplication of titles makes it a sub-optimal interface.

HI, I'm the producer of the Alison Watt film which was an independent production by my company, Skyline Productions, for BBC. Thanks for this. We were all delighted to read it. The film was made by my German friend and collaborator, Thomas Riedelsheimer who is, I think, a genius. All praise to BBC Scotland and Andrew Lockyer in particular for allowing us to make this film. If you'd like to see another example of our work take a look at the feature doc, Rivers and Tides, Andy Goldsworthy working with Time, available from Artificial Eye www.artificial-eye.com Best wishes,Leslie Hills

This is Leslie again. We're just finishing DVDs of the Alison Watt film and I'd really like to send you one. We're using a wee bit of your quote instead of the usual constipated critic's offerings. Where can I send you a copy?

About Me

Portly noo-meejah product manager with a liking for gin and ladies. Oh, and a boy. Just the one.
Fond of eating,
Prone to being too serious,
Optimistic (mostly),
Solipsistic,
Nowhere near as interesting as you might think,
A wobbly speller (sorry).